BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of November 27, 2007

 

The Board met at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Jamie Tolfree present, for the purpose of holding a 2008 budget workshop.  The meeting concluded at 2:20 p.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, James D. Richardson and Jamie Tolfree present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance. 

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

1.      Minutes for week of November 20, 2007.

2.      Liquor license renewal for American Legion Coy-Catlin Post 137.

3.      Notice of completion of contract for Creagan Excavating, Inc. for Rock Creek Conveyance Project.

4.      Revised job description and reclassification of Senior Services In-Home Services Supervisor at Range 17, effective January 1, 2008.

5.      Set public hearing for 1:30 PM Tuesday, December 18, 2007 to consider adoption of Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program.

6.      Certification of 2008 Property Tax Levies for Current Expense, County Road, Fire District No. 4, Fire District No. 6, Fort Vancouver Regional Library.

7.      Resolution 2007-51 increasing Solid Waste Petty Cash Fund.

8.      Resolution 2007-52 amending Building Code Fee Schedules.

9.      Letter to the County Road Administration Board notifying of the hiring of a full-time County Engineer and an updated Organizational Chart reflecting the duties of the Engineer.

10.    Contract amendment #1 with Advanced Planning Solutions, Inc to extend the duration to December 31, 2008 to act as project manager to treat Drano Lake with aquatic herbicides to control Eurasian milfoil.

11.    Contract amendment #1 with Northwest Aquatic Eco-Systems to extend the duration to December 31, 2008 for completion of the final post-treatment plant survey of Drano Lake.

12.    Contract amendment #1 with Advanced Planning Solutions, Inc. to extend the duration to December 31, 2008 and increasing the amount by $3,000 to complete a stormwater utility district ordinance.

13.    Contract amendment #1 with Creagan Excavating, Inc for snowplowing of Forest Service 90 and 25 Roads to provide access to County residents during the 2007-2008 winter season.

 

Larry Douglass, Public Works Director reported on the Rock Creek Landslide and Conveyance Project, private road standards, Engineering projects, County Road projects, ER&R, Solid Waste, and Building Department.

 

John Carlson, Emergency Management Coordinator reported on monitoring of Mount St. Helens, Piper Road/Rock Creek Landslide, Fire Wise Program, Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, Community Emergency Response Team Program, National Incident Management System compliance, school preparedness, Emergency Operations Center progress, pandemic flu, and search and rescue.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve letters to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus regarding reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Act.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:40 a.m. Tuesday, November 27, 2007 and reconvened at 10:50 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board discussed a voucher to Summerland Enterprises, with no action taken.

 

Kirby Richards, Community Health Director reported on various meetings, leasing server space with Benton and Franklin Counties, proposed changes to job descriptions, changes to office hours, and gave a financial update.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 27, 2007 and reconvened at 9:05 a.m. Wednesday, November 28, 2007, with Commissioners Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

The Board discussed the requirements and process for timber land applications with the Assessor, Prosecutor and Planning and Community Director, with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Richardson joined the meeting at approximately 9:20 a.m.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Public Works to discuss the Piper Road/Rock Creek Landslide, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Planning and Community Development to discuss the pending application list and clearing and grading ordinance, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with the Recreation and Facilities Director to discuss Christmas in the Gorge, Rock Creek Recreation Center, and an upcoming Washington, DC trip, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:50 a.m. Wednesday, November 28, 2007 and reconvened at 9:35 a.m. Thursday, November 29, 2007, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve a voucher to Summerland Enterprises, withholding 5% retainage of the total contract amount.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried to approve vouchers for the period ending November 29, 2007 in the total amount of $237,477.11.

 

The Board discussed a proposal from the Treasurer for the purchase of a debit/credit card payment system.  The Treasurer advised that the only cost to the County would be $60.00 for each card reader purchased.  The Board directed the Clerk of the Board to coordinate a meeting with Elected Officials for the 3rd week in December to further discuss the proposal.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to change the pay rate for the Pool Manager/Recreation Coordinator position to a Range 17, effective November 1, 2007.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve Resolution 2007-47 setting a public hearing for 10:00 a.m. Thursday, December 27, 2007 to set 2008 Property Tax Levies and for adoption of the 2008 Budget.

 

The Board advised that a workshop to discuss forest issues with Cowlitz and Lewis Counties has been scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 25 at the Forest Service Training Center in Stabler.

 

Carlo Abbruzzese, Natural Areas Manager for the Department of Natural Resources gave a presentation on natural areas in Skamania County.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, November 29, 2007 and reconvened at 11:15 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with representatives from the Department of Ecology, Kennedy-Jenks, and Skamania County Economic Development Council to discuss Wind River Site water rights issues, with no action taken.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding potential litigation from 12:15 p.m. until 12:45 p.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:45 p.m. Thursday, November 29, 2007 and reconvened at 2:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board met with Nancy Ryke Gifford Pinchot District Ranger and Neil Oliver, Gifford Pinchot District Engineer for an annual meeting, as required in the Wind River Nursery (WRN) Conveyance Agreement, to discuss shared infrastructure.  Neil Oliver presented FY2007 Wind River water and septic system maintenance costs and an estimate for CY 2008 water and septic system maintenance.  Discussion included Forest Service 90 Road and recreation site analysis.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve Resolution 2007-56 authorizing a loan from Cumulative Reserve Fund to the Fair Fund in the total amount of $10,000.

 

The Board discussed the purchase of safety equipment for the Solid Waste Supervisor and the Public Works Director.  The Board was in agreement to allow the Solid Waste Supervisor and the Public Works Director to purchase safety equipment for work, including footwear, to be replaced or repaired as needed.

 

The meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m. Thursday, November 29, 2007.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON